IBM Cloud enables digital music pioneer to improve performance and scale to meet changes in demand for its mobile game

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Las Vegas, NV
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25 Feb 2014:
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Music Mastermind has deployed a hybrid cloud solution consisting of IBM’s SoftLayer cloud service and iDataPlex systems enabling the technology startup to quickly scale its high-value cloud infrastructure when demand for its mobile game spikes.

Music Mastermind’s flagship product is Zya, a first-of-its-kind mobile game that allows fans to create and share original songs as they navigate their path to music stardom. The game’s cloud platform combines elements of interactive entertainment, music production tools, and social interaction. In doing so, it gives players the ability to create new songs, mash-up world-famous hits or combine elements of both to create music that is uniquely their own.

With support from IBM’s SoftLayer® and iDataPlex, Zya is currently available in 155 countries. To enable consistent, high-quality delivery and deployment of the game to customers around the world, Music Mastermind requires a robust, globally dispersed cloud infrastructure for its active users, hosting and application development.

Successfully preparing for and deploying new mobile applications requires startups to think past the initial release and focus on managing increasing demand and unexpected spikes in traffic. In order to do so, Music Mastermind, with the help of IBM Business Partner Micro Strategies, installed IBM’s iDataPlex high performance servers into its data centers in San Jose, CA and Ashburn, VA, not only to host the app and meet initial demand, but also to house regular application development for Zya.

Each center’s cloud is used to create 160 virtual instances, supporting an estimated 250,000 active users. To help manage the mounting data volumes generated by its rapidly expanding user base, the company also uses the IBM Storwize V7000 Unified storage system. The high-end disk system manages the company’s databases as well as provisioning for its Zya mobile game.

To maintain service on Zya during peak periods, especially after its launch in the global iTunes App Store, Micro Strategies brought in IBM SoftLayer for global cloud bursting.With a high speed network that has the ability to create 1,000 virtual servers in each of its locations, IBM SoftLayer is expected to be able to host and deliver Zya from 40 data centers in 15 countries and five continents globally by the end of 2015.

“Because we created Zya to reach music lovers all over the world, we needed it to be able to scale quickly, meeting global traffic demands while still maintaining strong bandwidth to deploy new features and continually enrich the player’s experience,” said Matt Serletic, co-founder/CEO of Music Mastermind. “Using IBM’s cloud solution has given us the capacity to grow, scale and host our networks in their most appropriate environments, freeing up extraneous expenses and labor that we can devote to ongoing innovation.”

The openness of SoftLayer’s cloud platform was also a significantdraw. Based on OpenStack, IBM’s open standards-based cloud approach offers born on the webdevelopers the interoperability and collaboration important for growth. With more than 500 developers dedicated to building and growing open standards, IBM’s dedication to open technologies and work with Cloud Foundry and OpenStack is continuing to elevate software standards to become more secure, interoperable and scalable as businesses grow, such as the recently released standard Havana.

"SoftLayer’s cloud platform gives developers greater interoperability and collaboration which is important for growth," said Nathan Day, chief scientist for SoftLayer. “In addition, IBM has committed more than 500 developers who are dedicated to building and growing open standards. IBM's dedication to open technologies and work with Cloud Foundry and OpenStack is continuing to elevate software standards to become more secure, interoperable and scalable as businesses grow, such as the recently released standard Havana."

About Music Mastermind, Inc.

Founded in 2008, Music Mastermind creates interactive entertainment technology that gives you the ability experience music in a whole new way. Zya, the company’s flagship product, allows users to make a new song, mash-up world-famous hits or combine elements of both to create music that is uniquely theirs. The company was co-founded by Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter and former Chairman/CEO of Virgin Records Matt Serletic and former Managing Director and Global Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Trading at JP Morgan Bo Bazylevsky. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Music Mastermind is a venture-backed startup whose investors include Intel Capital, Liberty Global, and Shea Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.musicmastermind.com.

About IBM Cloud Computing

IBM has helped more than 30,000 clients around the world with 40,000 industry experts. Today, IBM has 100+ cloud SaaS solutions, thousands of experts with deep industry knowledge helping clients transform and a network of 40 data centers worldwide. Since 2007, IBM has invested more than $7 billion in 16 acquisitions to accelerate its cloud initiatives and build a high value cloud portfolio. IBM holds 1,560 cloud patents focused on driving innovation. In fact, IBM for the 21st consecutive year topped the annual list of US patent leaders. IBM processes more the 5.5M client transactions daily through IBM's public cloud. For more information about cloud offerings from IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com/cloud. Follow us on Twitter at @IBMcloud and on our blog at http://www.thoughtsoncloud.com. Join the conversation #ibmcloud.

About Micro Strategies

For over 30 years, Micro Strategies has distinguished itself as one of the most innovative technology solution providers and a strategic business partner for premier technology vendors. As an industry leader, Micro Strategies is at the forefront of architecting and implementing quality technology solutions with a commitment to responsive, client-first service. Micro Strategies provides IT solutions for commercial businesses of all sizes and in the Professional Services, Retail, Telecommunications, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical industries. The solution focus areas include Infrastructure Solutions, Enterprise Content Management, Big Data/Business Analytics, Cloud Computing, Security & Compliance, Portals, Collaboration & Mobility as well as services including Business Process Management, Design and Development, Implementation and Support and Staff Augmentation.

Micro Strategies was recently named a finalist for the IBM Beacon Award for the IBM SmartCloud™ – Best IBM SoftLayer based Cloud solution for the Music Mastermind implementation. The IBM Beacon Award recognizes IBM Business Partners who have delivered exceptional solutions using IBM products and services. For more information visit: www.microstrat.com.

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